What's the appeal with "Non-action" poses (1 Viewer)

[Currahee Chris]

Just cooked up a couple more questions for threads- so, it seems like a year or so ago most of the releases were "non-action" poses- those being troopers engaged in eating, playing baseball, writing home, using the bathroom, etc.

While these figures don't appeal to me personally, I would be interested to see why some of you guys collect them. Some people have worked up some really amazing stills with them.

 

[theBaron]

Hi, Chris, I think some of the others may say the same thing as I do. While we are very interested in military history, and ultimately, the soldier's purpose is to drive the enemy from a piece of ground, as Old Fritz once said, it's very interesting to know as much as we can about the soldier's life off the battlefield as well. I think it's not just true for us as toy soldier collectors/painters, but in the broader hobby of military miniatures and modeling, too. Some of the best connoisseur figures I've seen represent little scenes the occurred between battles.

Just my opinion, prost!
Brad

 

[VIRIATO]

I collect both action and non action poses, it all depends on the figures, being matte ot glossy figures, meant to be part of a diorama or to fill a shelf to get the mass effect.
As I collect glossy figures, I do enjoy the very classic marching poses when such figures look appealing to me. Example: most of the Britains Redcoats series, meant more to show the uniforms and their beautiful glossy colors than action, seemingly reserved by Britains for matte figures. Don't you sometimes get tired of the same old prone or standing shooting poses and want something imaginative and different? Example: Bill Hocker's the Abolitionists or Confederate Roster from his ACW series or K&C's Lincoln and his generals...

Paulo

 

[thebritfarmer]

I like the behind the scenes look. There is too much warfare in the news as it is these days so I can always watch that if needs be. Most of my toy soldiers collection is ceremonial anyway. Those that are not are of the Colonial era where the wars (using this loosely) are a bit more "romantic". WWII has never appealed to me.

I think also with a fighting pose you need the opposition other wise it looks odd. Randy (Polarbear) has illustrated this many times on here.

 

[jazzeum]

Which company made soldiers playing baseball. I don't recall any except maybe Tedtoy. Were you thinking of those Chris?

 

[Mitch]

I would like to see more non action poses more troops doing other things than fighting or posed as they are about to. Its ironic Chris has started this thread as TG's new Para range has started with non combat poses and some were saying when are the action poses coming!!!

Lots of things the manufacturers can address than combat and still be interesting IMO
Mitch

 

[trooper]

It is a big advantage to have served in the military. As any old serviceman knows, in the military it is always hurry up and wait. My own philosophy is that a soldier is a soldier and that the troops at Agincourt or wherever acted exactly the same as soldiers today. They would parade at times, clean their kit, play cards, drink, chat up the local girls, play with the local kids and adopt every stray cat or dog that appeared. When I make a figure I try to have him doing something that I either did myself or saw being done. Nine times out of ten it works, and people laugh and say "I remember doing that." Military life is, and always has been, 95% boredom and inactivity, 3% enjoyment and 2% sheer terror. Trooper

 

[Currahee Chris]

Which company made soldiers playing baseball. I don't recall any except maybe Tedtoy. Were you thinking of those Chris?

Didn't ONTC do a camp life ACW with some of the guys playing baseball?? Not Cubs, Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox (ok, mets too ^&grin)- I'm thinking army guys playing ball.

 

[Currahee Chris]

It is a big advantage to have served in the military. As any old serviceman knows, in the military it is always hurry up and wait. My own philosophy is that a soldier is a soldier and that the troops at Agincourt or wherever acted exactly the same as soldiers today. They would parade at times, clean their kit, play cards, drink, chat up the local girls, play with the local kids and adopt every stray cat or dog that appeared. When I make a figure I try to have him doing something that I either did myself or saw being done. Nine times out of ten it works, and people laugh and say "I remember doing that." Military life is, and always has been, 95% boredom and inactivity, 3% enjoyment and 2% sheer terror. Trooper

Truer words have yet to be spoken.

I was with some mates in a really loose platoon formation. Some of the boys were sitting on the ground, rucks off to the side, and two guys were sitting back to back. It was like O Dark thirty and pretty chilly. It was so quiet you could hear a dime drop and this one PFC blurts out "You know, I never learned how to be a bum till I joined the US Army!!" ^&grin

 

[thebritfarmer]

Which company made soldiers playing baseball. I don't recall any except maybe Tedtoy. Were you thinking of those Chris?

ONTC although it doesn't appear on their website, it was featured at the Chigaco show. (Photo courtesy of Mike Estell)

 

[fmethorst]

I like both action and non-action figures. I think the non-action poses open a lot more possibilities in regards to figure variety.

Honour Bound has made many sets depicting sets behind the lines that I quite enjoy.

 

[wayne556517]

I only collect "Non-action"poses now as its makes for more Dio options plus with action figures i reckon it just dosen't look right when then are attacking/fighting nothing,so you have to collect both sides and i cant afford that but just MO............:salute::

 

[Obee]

It is a big advantage to have served in the military. As any old serviceman knows, in the military it is always hurry up and wait. My own philosophy is that a soldier is a soldier and that the troops at Agincourt or wherever acted exactly the same as soldiers today. They would parade at times, clean their kit, play cards, drink, chat up the local girls, play with the local kids and adopt every stray cat or dog that appeared. When I make a figure I try to have him doing something that I either did myself or saw being done. Nine times out of ten it works, and people laugh and say "I remember doing that." Military life is, and always has been, 95% boredom and inactivity, 3% enjoyment and 2% sheer terror. Trooper

You are exactly right with you comments, and beat me to the post with them.

My favourite NAP set from K&C is this one,

and with the addition of a couple of others figures

it makes a great vignette, and they all look like they are enjoying themselves.

Lets see more makers doing this sort of thing.... Alexanders Toy Soldiers has a great range of NAPs in relaxed poses too,

John

 

[wayne556517]

I agree John great set........:smile2:

 

[Martin Tabony]

It is a big advantage to have served in the military. As any old serviceman knows, in the military it is always hurry up and wait. My own philosophy is that a soldier is a soldier and that the troops at Agincourt or wherever acted exactly the same as soldiers today. They would parade at times, clean their kit, play cards, drink, chat up the local girls, play with the local kids and adopt every stray cat or dog that appeared. When I make a figure I try to have him doing something that I either did myself or saw being done. Nine times out of ten it works, and people laugh and say "I remember doing that." Military life is, and always has been, 95% boredom and inactivity, 3% enjoyment and 2% sheer terror. Trooper

I need to make more figures cleaning bl@@dy kit then!:salute::

Martin

 

[Obee]

I need to make more figures cleaning bl@@dy kit then!:salute::

Martin

How about this from Tradition of London,
Prussian Army of Frederick the Great.

John

 

[Rob]

Whilst I do have some non action figures, officers, wounded, marching etc, I do always prefer in action figures myself. They just have more life in them for me, the recent British and Canadian D Day troops from K&C are prime examples of this, much more evocative of the hobby and what Toy Soldiers are all about.

Rob

 

[VIRIATO]

I like the behind the scenes look. There is too much warfare in the news as it is these days so I can always watch that if needs be. Most of my toy soldiers collection is ceremonial anyway. Those that are not are of the Colonial era where the wars (using this loosely) are a bit more "romantic". WWII has never appealed to me.

This is the way I'm feeling nowadays, the colour and pageantry of other eras (Roman Empire, Crusades, 18th Century, Napoleonic, Colonial or Victorian, ACW or some WWI) are what catches my eye now. Should collect them all^&grin... Not that much into cerimonial though.


Paulo

 

[theBaron]

How about this from Tradition of London,
Prussian Army of Frederick the Great.

John

Those figures, along with their mates, preparing to mount guard, and the working party figures (digging, chopping, with appropriate tools), are excellent figures. I've got those on my wish list. There's a sketch by Menzel of Prussian soldiers entrenching, with an engineer officer and an NCO of the miner corps supervising; I'd like to make a little diorama like that sketch, and those figures are almost perfect for it.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I still want two French Naps roasting a pig!